Under-fire rapper Soulja Boy has issued a grovelling apology to the military after insulting the army in a new song. The hip-hop star released an online promo for his new track Let’s Be Real earlier this month, and it emerged the song contains the line, “F**k the FBI and the army troops… fighting for what? Be your own man…”

The lyrics attracted a storm of criticism from war veterans, and even prompted a retired army sergeant to record his own song slamming the star.

But Soulja Boy has now issued an apology for the slur, admitting he was “wrong to even speak” the words.

In a statement posted on GlobalGrind.com, he writes, “As an artist, I let my words get the best of me. Sometimes there are things that we feel, things that we want to express, and when we put them on paper and speak them out loud, they can come out wrong.

“When I expressed my frustration with the US Army, not only did my words come out wrong, I was wrong to even speak them. So, I write this to give my sincerest apology to all members of the United States military services, as well as their families that were offended by my most recent lyrics.

“As a young man who grew up in the post-9/11 era, I have watched our country fight two wars that seem like they are never going to end. I have seen thousands and thousands of our brave men and women get killed in battle and often times, I think for what? A lot of people in this country are struggling to make ends meet and I think a lot about what if we had never gone to war. Where would our economy be? Our schools, our after-school and work programs, our streets?…

“In no way would I ever want to offend those who are protecting our freedoms… a lot of homeboys who I grew up with, a lot of people who come from the neighborhoods we live in… In no way do I want to hurt any of our honorable soldiers who put their lives at risk, regardless of how they feel about the two wars we fight in.

“I am just frustrated that we haven’t been able to bring you all home quick enough and my frustration got the best of me. I am deeply sorry.”